Filter panel mounting means



0, 1954 c. H. LAWS 2,685,923

FILTER PANEL MOUNTING MEANS Filed April 27, 1953 INVENTOR CHARLES H. LAWS ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1954 FILTER PANEL MOUNTING MEANS Charles H. Laws, San Marino, Calif.

Application April 27, 1953, Serial No. 351,402

Claims.

This invention has to do with means for mounting air filter panels in the filter-receiving frames provided in air ducts and in conjunction with forced air circulation apparatus.

Air filter panels are customarily removably mounted in permanent frames provided in air conditioning, ventilating and forced air heating systems. The frames are often located in places where access is somewhat difficult and it is rarely possible to gain access to the rear side of the frame. In view of this and the fact that the filter panels become stuck in the frame after a period of use, it is difficult to remove the panels for cleaning or replacement.

An object of my invention is to provide novel means for use in securing a filter panel in a panelreceiving frame and for use in efiecting easy removal of the panel from the frame.

A further object is to provide means of the type indicated which can be readily incorporated in the panel-receiving frame.

Another object is to provide means of the type indicated which is simple in construction and can be readily manufactured at low cost.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and the following description.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a frame for receiving a filter panel, theframe embodying a form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view of one side of the frame of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a panel-removing position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the lever mechanism in unlocked position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. '7 and, 8 are perspective views of the locking lever and main lever respectively.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral I I generally indicates a rectangular frame such as would be included in an air duct or the like for receiving a filter panel. Often a plurality or bank of the frames II are employed in large ducts or air circulating devices. The frame II is shown as comprising a marginal, forwardly extending wall I4 of rectangular shape and a rear filter panel-retaining or abutment wall I5 in a plane at right angles thereto. A filter panel F is fragmentarily shown in broken lines in certain of the views.

It is a particular feature of my invention that I provide the frame I I with a pair of panel-retaining-and-remo'ving means, indicated by I8. These may be on opposite sides of the frame II.

Referring to the means I8 at one side of the frame, this comprises a main lever 20 which has a main body 2| in the form of an elongated fiat strip having a mounting aperture 22 at one end. A rivet 23 or other means may be used for securing the lever to the inside of the frame I I. The member 20 has a laterally projecting portion at its upper end which extends rearwardly of the point of pivotal mounting and terminates in a tab or foot 25 at right angles to the plane of the part 2|. The foot extends inwardly of the frame II and is adapted to lie in a plane adjacent the flange I5.

At its lower or free end the lever 20 is formed to provide an end portion 26, the plane of which is at right angles to the portion 2 I. End portion 26 extends laterally of the portion 2| but generally a a prolongation thereof. This member is apertured at 27 to receive a rivet or other mounting means 28 by means of which I mount a looking lever 36 for pivotal movement.

The locking lever comprises an end portion 3I having an opening 32 to receive the rivet 28. The member 30 has a radius or curved edge 33 between edges 34 and 35, the edge 35 being substantially normal to the general longitudinal axis of the member. Member 30 also has a stepped handle portion 31 which is in a plane parallel to but spaced from the plane of the portion 3 I.

The wall I4 of the frame is provided with a louvre-like, elongated, inclined, inwardly extending projection 38 for each locking lever 36. Each projection 38 has a rear face 39 which is slightly inclined with relation to wall I5, as indicated in Fig. 4, in a direction such that the end portion of the locking lever, when turned from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 to the position of Figs. 2 and 6, will engage this face and the rotative movement of the locking lever will serve to cam the locking lever and end portion 26 of the main lever inwardly to a filter panel-retaining position, securely holding the filter panel in place.

In the operation of the device, to install a filter panel in frame I I the locking levers are turned to the position shown in Fig. 5 thereby permitting insertion of a filter panel F which fits within the frame II between the foot or tab 25 of the main lever 20 and the portion 26 of the main lever. After the panel is inserted the locking levers 30 are turned upward to approximately the positions of Figs. 1 and 2 to firmly clamp the panel in place. Further rotation of the locking levers is prevented by abutting engagement of the edge 35 with the inside surface of the wall M of frame II.

To remove the filter panel, the locking members it are rotated to the position of Fig. 5 after which they are pulled outwardly to rotate the main levers 20 about pivot 23 with the result that the foot or tab 25 on each of the main levers moves forwardly and pulls the filter panel outwardly, freeing it from the frame I l, as shown in Fig. 4.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention with reference to filter panels, I contemplate that the. invention: has other uses and that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the claims.

I claim:

1. In means for releasably mounting a panel in a frame having side walls within which the panel is received, a lever pivotally mounted at one end on the inner side of a side wall of said frame, a foot integral with said lever extending inwardly of the frame positioned behind the panel, said lever being normally in panel-holding position, said lever member being swingable in a direction to move said foot forwardly of said frame thereby to pull said panel partially out, of the frame, means on said lever for engaging the front side of the panel, and interengaging means on said lever member and frame operable to releasably secure said lever member in normal, panel-holding position.

2. In means for releasably mounting a panel in a frame having side walls within which the panel is received and, panel-abutment means forming a stop for the panel, a lever member pivotally mounted at one end on the. inner side of a side wall of said frame, a foot integral with said lever member extending inwardly of the frame adjacent said panel-abutment means positioned behind the panel, said lever member being normally in panel-holding position, said lever member being movable'in a direction to move said foot forwardly of said frame thereby to, pull said panel partially out of the frame, a locking lever pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever member on an axis normal tothe pivotal axis of said lever member, and cam surfacemeans on said frame for engagement by said locking lever to releasably secure said lever member in normal, panel-holding position.

3. In means for releasably mounting a panel in a frame having side walls within Which the panel is received and panel-abutment means forming a stop for the panel, a lever member pivotally mounted at one end on the inner side of a side wall of said frame, a foot integral with said lever member extending inwardly of the frame adjacent said panel-abutment means positioned behind the panel, said lever member being normally in panel-holding position, said lever member being movable in a direction to move said foot forwardly of said frame thereby to pull said panel partially out of the frame, a locking lever pivotally mounted on the free end of said lever member an axis normal to the pivotal axis of said lever member, a cam surface provided on said frame opposite said locking lever, said surface being inclined with respect to a plane normal to the axis of the opening through the frame, said cam surface being engageable by an end of said locking lever upon rotation thereof whereby to urge said lever member against the panel in said frame.

4. In panel-mounting means, a frame having side wallswithin which a panel is received, a lever member pivotally mounted at one end on the inner side of a side wall of the frame, said lever having a short bell crank portion, and a foot on said crank portion extending inwardly of said frame and positioned rearwardly of the pivotal axis of the lever in the normal position of said lever against which the panel is positioned, said lever being swingable forwardly about its pivotal axis thereby causing said foot thereon to swing forwardly within said frame thereby pulling said panel partially out of the frame.

5. In means for releasably mounting a panel in a frame having side walls within which the panel is received and panel-abutment means forming a stop, for the panel, a lever member pivotally mounted at one end on the inner side of a side wall of said frame, a foot integral with said lever member extending inwardly of the frame adjacent the plane of said panel-abutment means and positioned behind the panel, said lever member being normally in panel-holding position, said lever member being movable in a direction to move said foot forwardly of said frame thereby to p S d panel partially out of the frame, said foot being at the pivoted end of said lever, a mounting tab at the free end of said lever member extending inwardly of said frame and spaced forwardly of said foot when said lever is in the normal, panel-holding position, a locking lever pivotally mounted on the mounting tab on an axis normal to the pivotal axis of said lever member, a cam surface provided on said frame opposite said locking lever, said surface being inclined with respect to the plane of said panelabutment means, said cam surface being engageable by an end of said locking lever upon rotation thereof whereby to urge said lever member against the panel in said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,652,856 Flannery Dec. 13, 1927 1,786,040 Taylor Dec. 23, 1930 2,396,520 Mastrangelo Mar. 12, 1946 

